cluded so much to your satisfaction, yet we find the Enemy will divide with us such Tribes as lye near them, and, their force admitting of no greater enterprize, spare no expence to send them a scalping. "Twas unlucky that our Battoes had set off the Morning of the 2a Inst when Capt McNeils Party were fired on near this Post, as with them we could easily have surprized the Enemy, and at least seized their Canoes. Our Indians discovered three, but pretend that the Enemy fled into the Woods at their landing. The Detachment of the 2a Inst arrived from Niagara yesterday with a supply of Flour and brings the agreeable news of Gen! Amherst being before Le Galette, in possession of the Enemies armed Vessels about the middle of Augt As no express has come to Niagara from the Army, we imagine a more authentic account may have reached Pittsburgh before now. To morrow a Party goes for Le Beuff to form the Post intended there.

The Weather has of late favoured our Works here extremely, so that we hope to see the Block house completed this month.

The Gentlemen of the Pensylv Regim! with me, beg leave to present you their respectful Compliments.

Agreeable to what I wrote, the Assembly have declined entering under your Requisition for the Re-enlistment of

Four hundred men. The Reason assigned in the inclosed Copy of their Answer to the Gov Message is a droll one; viz. "that it would take up more time than could possibly be spared at this Juncture w the Assembly in a few days must be dissolved." Can such conduct be conceived possible that they should say this in so grave a Manner & two days after adjourn for 8 or 10 days, to meet again next Monday? But it is so, and the Governor finding them obstinate did not any further litigate y° matter wth them.

I am obliged to you for your favours of the 4th & 6th & y' Copy of the Indian treaty. If Deputies from the English are to be admitted into any General Indian Council where War or Peace is debated it would give a great security indeed, but this I suppose is not meant, however if the General Body of Indians will insist that no particular Nation shall go to war against y° English, or with any other Indian Nation, without the Consent and Determination of the whole it would be a wise and proper measure, and these two Points Teedyuscung tells the Governor are actually agreed upon by all y° Indians.

The Shawanese are the greatest Politicians among all the Indians, but they must come into your measures, and if one would put a bridle upon them by a small Garrison at the Lower Shawanese Town or a strong Indian trading house it might not be amiss.

You will see by the Papers that a Packet arrived on Thursday last wch left Falmouth 29th July, but brought no Letters later y" what came by the London Ships.

The Hereditary Prince of Brunswick has had a Brush with the whole French Army & was beat wth some Loss and a slight wound in his shoulder.

The King of Prussia is in Silesia amidst numerous Armies of his Enemies who are cock sure of demolishing him & all his Army. But Heaven forbid.

The French have a well appointed Army under Marechal Duke of Broglio far superior to Prince Ferdinands in

Number, and it is thought our Army will be on the Defensive.

General Murray & Col. Haviland are on the Isle of Montreal wth 11,000 brave fellows.

General Amherst is to make his way thro' a Body of 10,000 French under Mons Levy, strongly entrenched at some place about 15 miles higher up the River yt Montreal. Not the least News from him since y° 26th nor is it wrote that there is any communication betw" Mr Amherst & M Murray.

The Express brought them [Murray & Haviland] an account that 2000 Draughts to fill up their Regiments & were sailed for Quebec with an account that the French had rejected all Proposals.

It is thought that Mons Levy is very strong & that General Amherst will find it very difficult to force his way thro'. I think these two Antagonists are pretty near equal in strength.

Several Gentlemen & Merchants are come here on one Business or other from New York and all say that there is nothing from London but what is in the publick Prints.

The King of Spain hearkens to Mr Wall & is determin'd to stand neuter.

Another villianous attempt of the Dutch to appropriate all the English in the District of Bengal is happily discovered and punished in part as far as money can do it, but I hope it will not end so.

Colonel Clive has really in England one Million and half sterling, was graciously received by His Majesty & is gone to smoke a Pipe in the Country.

The Report of the Lords of Trade is come to hand and contains a most earnest Recommendation to the Privy Council to repeal all the Assemblys favourite Laws passed

Gov Denny wherein the Rights of the Crown are attacked, or any Injustice done to the Prop If the Laws are repealed the assembly will not have any longer the

disposition of the publick money, and this may for the present sour them so much that I think it is to be questioned if the next Assembly will grant the Request, and I mention this that you may take your measures, as if you was sure that this Requisition, tho' just, will be absolutely refused. I write with freedom on this subject, and it is right I should, having a Confidence that whatever I say is only to your selfe.

I am

Your Excellencys

Most obedient servant

RICHARD PETERS.

BOUQUET TO GATES.

PRESQU'ISLE 22a September 1760.

DEAR SIR,

Your Letter of the 9th was delivered me last night by Mr Hutchins who brought five Indians with him.

Every Method has been tryed to engage them to go upon the intended Errand, but with so little success that they would not even stay another day here, and are going back to morrow.

Having more Managers than Indians, I have permitted Mr Hutchins at his request to go to Venango. He promises to return in a Week, and to do his best to bring up some Custologa Indians to scout here.

It cannot be imagined that after giving us so much time, an attack could seriously be intended against this Post. I am only apprehensive that the Communication may continue to be infested, which we can not prevent, having no People fit to be employed in retaliation. The Indians tell me that the Party mentioned in the Generals Letter is not gone, nor likely to go.

After long waiting for a Convoy from Venango to send down the few naked Virginians remaining here, Major Stewart writes that he has nothing to send, and that the Horses he hath, will hardly be able to make one Trip.

The officer sent with the General's Letters to Niagara is returned to day. He was shipwrecked by a storm upon. the Coast 20 Miles from hence. The Boat Staved, the People & Letters saved.

15th & they had no news provided, that they could

The sloop was not arrived the from the army. They are so ill not get us among their sutlers, Thread & Needles to make our sails.

The rainy Weather continues, and the navigation begins to be dangerous by the frequent squalls.

You will please to ask the General if he chooses to send Flags for the Forts & sloop, & some small ones for Batteaux and Partys.

I have sent a Party to Le Boeuf to cut and square Timber, and wrote for Shingle Nails at Venango.

I suppose the General was informed that Du Plessis has not been heard of, since he left the Mingo Cabins. How much I am concerned for his unhappy fate on such an occasion is more than I can express.

Major GATES.

I am

Dear Sir,

Your most obedient
Humble servant

HENRY BOUQUET.

P.S. Mr McKee tells me that this moment he has orders from Mr Croghan to go to Pittsburgh. I keep Montour till Hutchins return.

If Mr Croghan has Intelligence from Detroit, I wish he would direct them here, as they will always come too late by Fort Pitt.